Hilversum Tourist Attractions
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Hilversum, situated in the beautiful Gooiland area in the extreme southeast of Noord-Holland and perhaps best known for its radio and television transmitter, is one of the attractive residential and satellite towns around Amsterdam, with many fine villas belonging to wealthy citizens of the capital, numerous modern buildings designed by famous architects and extensive parks and gardens. Industry (textiles, leather goods, electrical engineering, pharmaceuticals) plays a relatively minor role. Hilversum, originally a poor Gooiland village, began to develop only after the construction of the Amsterdam-Amersfoort railroad line in 1874.Hilversum also has several shopping centres, swimming pools and sports facilities.
Town Hall
The new Town Hall (Gemeentehuis) with its tall square tower, built in 1928-30 by the celebrated architect W. M. Dudok, is one of the finest modern buildings in the Netherlands. The tower contains a carillon installed in 1958. There are a number of other buildings in the town (schools, etc.) in a similar style.
Broadcasting Museum
The Broadcasting Museum (Omroepmuseum) at Melkpad 34 displays a large collection of broadcasting equipment from the earliest days of radio in the 1920s and of television in the 1950s to the present day.
Other Sights
Other features of interest in Hilversum are the premises of the radio and television companies; the Gooiland Hotel; St Vituskerk (by P. J. H. Cuypers), with its 98m/322ft high tower; and the Noorderkerk. The old Town Hall on the Kerkbrink now houses the Gooiland Museum.
Surroundings
Singer Museum, Laren
Interesting features of Laren are the artists' colony and the Singer Museum, with a collection which includes modern pictures and sculpture and East Asian art.Laren is also well-known for the variety of specialty clothing shops.
Gooiland
For an attractive trip through the Gooiland area, the "garden of Amsterdam", take the road to Laren (5km/3mi) and continue via Blaricum (7km/4-.5mi), Huizen, on the Gooimeer (10km/6mi) and Naarden (16km/10mi) to Bussum (19km/12mi), from which it is 27km/17mi back to Hilversum.
Villages Along the Vecht
There are a number of attractive villages along the river Vecht and the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal: Loenersloot, with a medieval castle which was rebuilt in the 19th century; Vreeland, with its historic old bascule bridge over the Vecht; and the pretty village of Loenen. There are many houses in this area built in the 17th century by wealthy Amsterdam merchants.
's-Gravenland
About 5km/3mi northwest of Hilversum is the village of 's-Gravenland, which has a number of stately homes and buildings, including the 17th century house of Trompenburg.
